Why Do I Need a Grill Cover?

Routine maintenance is a necessity when caring for your grill, and by regularly cleaning the burners, flame tamers and firebox, you can increase the efficiency of your grill. Cleaning the inside of your grill will ensure a long-lasting investment, but without a cover, what’s going to protect the outside of your grill?

Without a proper protection, you may have to replace your grill every few summers because the weather can wear down and rust a grill. But, a durable cover will protect your grill from the weather, contaminants and pets.

Protects Against NatureUnless you have a small grill, you probably keep your grill outside. And, even if you have it under an overhang or in an open patio, your grill still suffers the weather. A grill cover will help your grill withstand rain, sleet and snow. And, when the wind is blowing hard, a grill cover will protect your grill from dirt, sticks and pebbles that can cause dings and scratches.

Keeps it CleanA cover will also protect your grill from all sorts of contaminants- bugs, bird droppings, pesticide/herbicide spray, vehicle fumes and more. These contaminants can get on your grill and eat away at it. Plus, when you touch the grill and then your food, you’re contaminating your food.

Yes, much of the contaminants will get cooked when you put the food on the hot grill grates, but you’ll just be cooking some of it right into your food. Or what if your tongs touch a contaminated side shelf; when you grab your food off the grates, the tongs will contaminate your cooked food.

Choosing a Grill Cover

When looking to buy a grill cover to replace your old one or because you don’t have one, there are a few things that you’ll want to look for.

You’ll want a durable cover. Try to avoid covers that are made of a cheap plastic that will break down, dry out and crack.

You’ll also want to make sure that that the cover will fit. You want the cover to be tight on the grill so that moist air and bugs can’t get under it. A properly sized cover will be one to two inches larger than the dimensions of your grill. You can check your grill manual for the dimensions of your grill model, or you can measure the widest and tallest points on your grill to get the dimensions.